IT WAS a trip down memory lane for two former residents of centuries-old Dunster Castle at the launch of a new interpretation project at the historic property.

Julian Luttrell, whose family owned the castle for 600 years and who was the last Luttrell to live in it, was unveiling the completion of a major project to bring the stories of his family and the people who lived there to life.

And he came face to face with his past when pensioner Edna Bowditch just happened to be visiting the property, now owned by the National Trust.

Mrs Bowditch, 79, went to work as a live-in domestic servant at the castle when she was just 15 and remembered taking the young Julian and his older brother Walter for walks in the woods.

"I had a number of duties and I can remember having to take a large silver platter to Julian's parents and carrying out domestic work," she said.

"But I also remember taking the boys for walks. I can't recall how old Julian was - he was young but he was walking."

Mrs Bowditch, whose maiden name was Wills and who now lives in Taunton, worked at the castle for a number of years before moving on to other employment.

She was staying with her daughter and son-in-law Janet and Keith Taylor from Williton when she visited the castle last Wednesday.

"It was the first time I had been back since I worked there," she said.

"My daughter and son-in-law thought it would be a treat for me - and it was.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it - it was one of the best days of my life."

Mrs Bowditch was able to see the results of the National Trust's latest investment in the castle, the Chapters project, which is made up of a number of elements dotted around the castle, using innovative audio and visual forms of interpretation.

In addition, rooms that were previously closed off to visitors have been opened up to help tell the stories.

To get a true reflection of family life, the castle team spent two years working from the recollections of the late Sir Walter Luttrell, who gave the property to the National Trust in 1976.

More recently his brother Julian has been sharing his memories of growing up in the castle.

The castle's general manager Seamus Rogers said: "It's not surprising that in over 600 years of ownership by the Luttrell family there is so much to tell about their time at Dunster Castle, such as the historical events that took place as well as the day-to-day life of those who lived and worked here.

"A strong theme that stands out above all else is that Dunster Castle is a survivor.

"It has faced many challenges and always, thanks largely to the passion of the Luttrell family, has weathered each storm.

"The Chapters project doesn't only concentrate on those challenges faced by the family but also the good times of which, thankfully, there were many too."

As part of the new project, visitors will be offered a specially produced returnable booklet as they enter the castle.

It will highlight what to look out for in each room, such as picking up the period telephone in the Justice Room and hearing how the reluctant sale of the castle and estate came about in 1949 in the wake of massive death duties.

Newspaper clippings - including one from the Free Press - carry the story of the sale of the 8,000-acre estate and help deepen visitors' understanding of how the then owner Geoffrey Luttrell must have been feeling at the time.

Luckily, the family was able to buy back its heritage just five years later.

"Each of the Chapter rooms has a different story to tell," said Mr Rogers.

"We've tried to avoid intrusive information boards by instead using interpretation techniques that blend into each room, such as handwritten letters, napkins with text on them and pictures on the wall.

"All these form part of the storytelling, whilst at the same time looking as though they belong in the room."

Mr Rogers said the Chapters project was made possible thanks to a substantial bequest administered through the National Trust Quantock Centre and the Luttrell family, whose willingness to share in their family's changing fortunes throughout the centre had helped bring the castle to life.

Photos: Steve Guscott.